Temperature control system



Jan. 14, 1947.

L. DsSKAGGS ETAL 2,414,339 TEMPERATURE CON'iROL SYSTEM Filed May 22, 1944 7 1mm 55 -.Dn/1. ''lmasa Patented Jan. 14, i947 TEMPERATURE C ONTROL SYSTEM Lee Dail Skaggs and Virgil Anthony Stair,

' linton, Tenn.

Application May 22, 1944, Serial No. 536,780

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in temperature control systems for dwellings and other buildings.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner adapted to raise the temperature when needed as well as to lower the same under varying temperature conditions. More particularly, the system will automatically keep the temperature of a building constant the year around regardless of sudden changes in temperature. The apparatus acts as a summer air conditioner, cooling the air by refrigeration when the building temperature is above normal. When the temperature drops below normal the entire system goes into reverse action, thereby warming the air by the introduction of electric heat means.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawing, the single view denotes the duplex system, the same being shown diagrammatically.

Referringtc the drawing wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that the system includes broadly units A and B, a compressor C and switching means D.

The unit A is a conditioner which is made up of a plurality of fins 5 and a coil 6 having its various flights or convolutions passing therethrough, and in conjunction with this there is provided a fan I.

The unit A during summer conditioning, acts as an evaporator, while the unit B acts as a condenser, thus carrying the heat from the conditioner or evaporator A to the condenser B, where it is cooled by the water in the tank.

In winter, conditioning, the conditioner or unit A acts as an air-cooled condenser, discharging heat from the evaporator in the hot water tank B which is kept hot by the provision of an electric heater 8; said heater is arranged within the tank. The said electric heater when operated keeps the water in the tank B at the temperature of around 60 F. during the period when the tank is being used as an evaporator.

One end of the coil 6 is connected by a capillary tube 9 to a pipe H! which connects to a coil II in a tank I! which forms part of the unit B. The capillary tube 9 restricts the flow of the refrigerant in either direction and is, therefore, operative during both the winter and the summer cycle. From the other end of the coil II a pipe l3 extends to one side of the compressor C. The other side of the compressor C is connected by a pipe 14 to the other side of the coil 6 of the unit A.

Numeral l5 denotes the current supply line having a fuse block l6 therein. 1 This supply line extends to a motor reverse control II.

From the supply line l5 conductors I8, I!) extend to the primary of a stop-down transformer 20. The secondary of the transformer 20 has one side connected by a jumper 2| to a thermal element 22 of a room thermostat 23, the thermal element 22 being operative between contacts 24, 25 which are connected by jumpers 26, 21, respec- "tively, to solenoids 28, 29. The solenoids 28, 29

operate an armature 30 to which is connected a carrier 3| on which are three bridge members. Thecarrier 3| is connected by a conductor 32 to the main line. v

In the pipe I ll between the units A, B is an electro solenoid control valve.33 which has one side connected by a jumper 34 to the conductor l9, while the other side i connected by a conductor 35 to contact X which is on the other side of the corresponding bridge member from a contact X, the latter being connected by a jumper 36 to the same jumper 35. Valve 33 is therefore only open when the compressor has been switched in and is running. ,It prevents flooding of coil A when the installation is not running.

Extending from the motor reverse control I! f is a conductor 31 which connects to a contact Y which is on the other side of the corresponding bridge member from a contact Y which is: connected by a conductor 38 also to the motor reverse control ll. There is a third bridge member on the carrier 3| and at one side of thi is a contact Z which is connected by a jumper 39 to a high voltage switch 40 for the heater 8, current being supplied to this switch by way of conductors H from the current supply line IS. The other side of the high voltage switch 40 is connected by a conductor 42 to the conductor Ill. The opposite contact Z of the switch mechanism D is connected by a conductor 43 to an electric solenoid switch control 44, the opposite side of this switch being connected to the conductor IS.

A cold water inlet pipe 45 is provided for the water tank H. The solenoid valve 44 on the water tank i2 controls the cold water circulation for summer conditioning. This valve in cold weather cuts off the cold water circulation from the tank I? so that the electric heater can raise the temperature and heat water in the tank l2. With coil ll heating, while the electric heater is cut oil, the control and solenoid valve 44 at the top of the tank owns to allow cool water to circulate through tank 13 for cooling coil I I. When the cycle isreversed the coil llstarts to cool the Q,did,839

erant in the system with the compressor C running counter-clockwise afiording summer time conditioning. The arrow pointing toward the left indicates direction or the refrigerant with the compressor running clockwise aflording winter time conditioning.

In the operation of contact as oi the thermostat the element 22, switches X, Z and Z. when the correct temperature is reached, the contact 25 is disengaged, letting the switch contacts X, Y and Z move back to neutral position. I! the temperature requires lowering, engagement of the element 22 of the thermostat 23' with the contact 24 causes the switch contacts X, Y and Z to be engaged by the carrier 3l, and when the correct temperature is reached, the contact id-is disengaged, thus permitting the contacts X, Y and Z to be disenthe system, assume that 28 is engaged by gaged.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and ins said motor with reversible compressor erted into the other connection, a motor tor driving said compressor, a reversing switch for said motor, means for supply- I electric current, means associated with the supply of current to the motor in either direction for controlling the valve in the aforesaid connection between the coilsand means associated with the reversing switch conthis results in the closing of condenser in vided with means for circulating a fluid through materials may be resorted to without departing 1 from the spirit and claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

i. An air conditioning system for reversible operation, one of said operations involving heating and the other cooling of the air to be conditioned, comprising a system provided with an air exposed fluid conducting coil, capable of acting as an evaporator in warm weather and as an air cooled condenser in cold weather, a tank system proscope of the invention as vided with means for circulating a fluid throughsaid tank and further provided with a fluid conducting coil embedded in the fluid circulating through said tank, an electric heater within said.

tank, electrically controlled means for controlling said heater, electrically controlled means i for controlling the circulation through the tank,

a double fluid connection between the air exposed coil of the evaporator-condenser system and the coil of the tank system embedded in the tank fluid. an electrically controlled valve and a restriction inserted into one of said connections, a

switch for controlling the trolling the direction of rotation of the motor for controlling the aforesaid electric heater controlling means and circulation controlling means.

2. An air conditioning system for reversible op-' oration,

said tank and further provided with a fluid conducting coil embedded in the fluid circulatin through said tank, an electric heater within said tank, electrically controlled means for controlling said heater, electrically controlled means for controlling the circulation through the tank, a double fluid connection between the air exposed coil of the evaporator-condenser system and the coil of the tank system embedded in the tank fluid. 5n electrically controlled. valve and a restrictor inserted into one of said connections, a reversible compressor motor for driving said compressor, a reversing switch for said motor, means for supplying said motor with electric current, a thermostatically controlled switch with a' movable armature adapted to occupy two positions to make connections in both positions, contacts controlling the heater of the tank closed in one 0! these posi-' tions, contacts controlling the circulation of a cold fluid through the tank closed in the other position and contacts in both positions of the valve inserted into the connection between the air exposed coils and the tank encl0sed coils.

3. In an air conditioning system as specified in ing motor of the compressor, controlled by the contacts of said armature.

LEE DAIL SKAGGS. VIRGIL ANTHONY STAIR.

inserted into the other connection, a 

